Pope Francis Friday condemned the deaths of Palestinian children in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, labeling the bombing of schools “on the suspicion that some Hamas people” might be in them “ugly”.
Speaking to the press on his return from Singapore to Rome, the Pope expressed skepticism that either Israel nor Hamas, fighting for 11 months, was working towards peace. “I am sorry to say this,” he said, “but I do not believe they are taking steps to make peace.”
Speaking to journalists after grueling 12-day Southeast Asia and Oceania tour, Francis spoke of how he daily talks to members of a Catholic parish in Gaza. “They tell me ugly, difficult things, things that touch my heart,” he said, showing deep concern for those so gravely affected by the conflict.
The Pope, who noted appeals for a ceasefire and the freeing of an Israeli hostage among Hamas militants, admitted, “Sometimes I feel that this war is too much.”
It was sparked by the October 7 assault of Hamas, which took the lives of some 1,200 Israelis and saw about 250 hostages abducted, Israeli sources said. Over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave of the Gaza Strip because of Israel’s military campaign, the enclave’s health ministry said on Thursday.
The war had “left Gaza’s economy in ruins,” the United Nations said on Thursday.
At the 40-minute press conference, Pope Francis had other global issues where he denounced policies from former U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. He said U.S. Catholics would have choices of tough elections in November, urging them to “choose the lesser evil,” though he did not elaborate further.
